Flag hoist

Flags Although you may never see them displayed except at fleet parades, around naval installations, and areas with heavy international shipping traffic. International code flags are used to signal between two ships or between ship and shore, also called signalling flags, they are a set of flags of different colours, shapes and markings which used singly or in combination have different meanings. The flags include 26 square flags which depict the letters of the alphabet, ten numeral pennants, one answering pennant, and three substituters or repeaters.

Flags Only a few colours can be readily distinguished at sea. These are: red, blue, yellow, black, and white; and these cannot be mixed indiscriminately. You will notice, for clarity, the flags shown are either red and white, yellow and blue, blue and white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, and blue.

Flags One-flag signals are urgent or very common signals Two-flag signals are mostly distress and manoeuvring signals. Three-flag signals are for points of the compass, relative bearings, standard times, verbs, punctuation, also general code and decode signals. Four-flags are used for geographical signals, names of ships, bearings, etc. Five-flag signals are those relating to time and position. Six-flag signals are used when necessary to indicate north or south or east or west in latitude and longitude signals. Seven-flags are for longitude signals containing more than one hundred degrees.

Single letter flag hoist Alfa (alpha) – Diver down, keep clear Bravo – I’m taking in, discharging or carrying dangerous goods Charlie – Yes (affirmative) Delta -- Keep clear of me, I’m manoevering with difficulty

Single letter flag hoist Echo – I am altering my course to starboard Foxtrot – I’m disabled, communicate with me Golf – I require a pilot Hotel – I have a pilot on board

Single letter flag hoist India – I’m altering my course to port Juliet – Keep clear, I’m on fire and have dangerous cargo Kilo – I wish to communicate with you Lima – You should stop your vessel instantly

Single letter flag hoist Mike – My vessel is stopped and making no way November – No (Negative) Oscar -- Man overboard Papa – I’m about to proceed to sea

Single letter flag hoist Quebec -- My vessel is "healthy" and I request free practique Romeo Sierra – I am operating astern propulsion Tango – Keep clear of me, I’m engaged in pair trawling

Single letter flag hoist Uniform – You are running into danger Victor – I Require assistance Whiskey – I Require medical assistance Xray -- Stop your intentions and wait for my signals

Single letter flag hoist Yankee – I Am dragging my anchor Zulu – I Require a tug

Letter flags 1 2 3 4 5  6 7 8 9 0 

Repeat First Flag Repeat Second Flag Repeat Third Flag Decimal (point) and Answering pennant

Examples, two flag signals AC - I am abandoning my vessel. LO - I am not in my correct position: used by a light vessel. RU - Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty. AN - I need a doctor. NC - I am in distress and require immediate assistance. SO - You should stop your vessel instantly. BR - I require a helicopter. PD - Your navigation lights are not visible. UM - The Harbour is closed to traffic. CD - I require immediate assistance. PP - Keep well clear of me. UP - Permission to enter Harbour is urgently requested. I have an emergency.

Answering pennant At the dip – The code flag hoisted "at the dip“ indicates that the receiver has seen the signal from the transmitting ship Close up – The code flag hoisted "close up" indicates that the receiver has understood the signal from the transmitting ship

Nation flag Meaning: This flag indicates the nationality of the vessel Place: On board of a vessel the nation flag may only be hoisted at the following places: When the vessel is sailing, at the smallest mast or the one placed most aft. In every other circumstance, in the mast on the stern of the vessel It is strictly prohibited to place other flags than your nation flag on these places!

Courtesy flag Meaning: The courtesy flag is a little nation flag of the country one is visiting Place: The courtesy flag is hoisted at the starboard yard of the front mast. If there is no yard, than the flag may be hoisted to the top of the front mast. The courtesy flag will never be hoisted in the mast on the stern of the vessel.

Courtesy flag Remark Saoudi Arabia: This country has two nation flags: one for its own and one for visitors. The visitors must use the first flag. Here the sword is pointed at the mast. Symbolically, you point the sword to yourself and not to the country. Saoudi Arabia uses the second flag. Her the sword is pointed away from the mast. Symbolically it is pointed to the visitors and protects the country.